St.Thomas the apostle of Christ landed in 52 A.D. at Muziris or Kodungallur, the first century west coast harbour of Kerala - Pliny's Primum emporium Indiae - and went on to establish seven churches for the faithful he evangelised in Kerala. Only three of these seven churches could,perhaps,claim continuous existence in the same location from the time of the Apostle. The church at palayur is unique in that the present church has a continuous history of two millennia and stands on the same spot where the Apostle first established it. The first church founded by St.Thomas continued to exit for many centuries and we know that in 1607 the Italian Jesuit Fr.Finecio s.j. decided, after obtaining due permission from the ecclesiastical authorities, to construct a more convenient church around the existing old structure for the parish of Palayur.

Under the able and enthusiastic leadership of Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy the Archdiocese of Trichur is today wholeheartedly committed to the cause of developing Palayur into the focus of National and International Pilgrim Tourism in South India. The Palayur Church was elevated as the first Archdiocesan Pilgrim Centre on 16th April 2000. The Reliquary here houses part of the sacred remains of Apostle Thomas conveyed from Ortona, Italy. The 27 km long annual Lenten Maha Theerthadanam or Great Pilgrimage on foot from thrissur to Palayur was led in recent years by Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy, Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, Archbishop Ivan Cardinal Dias of Bombay , In 2002 the Great Pilgrimage is scheduled for the 24th of February which will be led by the Cardinal Primate of Poland H.E.Josef Glemp.

In true Kerala tradition the palayur Pilgrim Complex together with the Guruvayur Temple and the Manathala Masjid forms a sacred triangle of religious harmony and communal amity, embracing the Arabian Sea and the Chettuvai Azhimukam, with the elephant resort at Guruvayur providing the incomparable sight of scores of domesticated elephants.

1. Ash Monday ratharambha Gathering.

2. Annual Great Pilgrimage from Thrissur during Lent.

3. Annual Bible Convention in connection with the Great Pilgrimage.

4. Puthu Njayar Thirunal on the first Sunday after Easter --- " My Lord and My God".

5. Vidyarambam on 31 st May when children are introduced to the alphabet.

6. Dukhrana Festival on 3rd July and feeding (Oottu) of the people.

7. Tharppana Thirunal on July 14,15 in commemoration of the first baptisms at the tank.

8. Sunday after 10th of each month : Muppittu Njayar Celebration and Group Baptism at Thaliyakkulam.

9. Novena, Mass etc in honour of Apostle St.Thomas on each Tuesday.

The maximum number of historical monuments and artifacts connected with the life and mission of Apostle Thomas in Kerala are to be found in and around the Palayur Church. Even as it is the premises of the church recall an outdoor meseum with

         the ancient haven and monument at Boattukulam where the Apostle landed on
           his arrival from Kodungallur.

         the Thaliyakkulam (tank) where he baptised many after performing the miracle
           with water and the granite baptismal font on its banks.

         the underground remains of the primordial church.

         the ancient church itself;

         the old Juden Bazar.

         the poojakkinar or ritual well used in the first centuries.

         the martyr's hall or mandapa modelled on the Small Mount or Chinnamalai of Madras-Mylapore;

         the Mar Thomas Patha (walk-way) with fourteen stations depicting in rock scenes from the
           saint's life.

         Jubilee Door.

and many more monuments and artifacts....

These sights and memories constantly bring to Palayur all the year round,year in and year out, large nuumbers of pilgrims, tourists, scholars, and researchers not only from Kerala and India but also from countries all over the world. palayur is the first port of call for all those who wish to learn about the venerable St.Thomas Traditions. Coming up soos at Palayur will be an immense Indoor museum which will help one to trace the whole history and culture of the ancient Indian Church and the St.Thomas Christains.

Your generous cooperation is solicited in the efforts of the people of God to convert this dream of Indian Christianity into reality. May Thomas and his Master bless you!

1. Ground Floor

Rs. 14,00,000

2. First Floor

Rs. 5,50,000

3. Second Floor

Rs. 2,00,000

4. Toilet Area

Rs. 2,00,000

5. Electrification ( 1 st Floor)

Rs. 1,50,000

6. Electrification (2 nd Floor)

Rs. 1,00,000

7. Electrification (3 rd Floor)

Rs. 75,000

8. Digital Video

Rs. 1,50,000

9. Library Furniture/Equipment

Rs. 1,00,000

10. Museum Furniture/Equipment

Rs. 3,00,000

11. Collection of Exhibits

Rs. 3,00,000

12. Computer System

Rs. 75,000

13. Each Exhibition Area/Cabin

Rs. 50,000

14. Light & Sound Equipment

Rs. 1,00,000

15. Each Tableau/Stall

Rs. 50,000

Wellwishers are requested to kindly sponsor the above items.(One or more item/s, group/s, section/s, ot the whole project may be sponsored). Names of sponsors( whose contribution is above Rs.50,000) will be suitably and permanently inscribed in the Museum, giving due weightage to and reflecting the value of the amount contributed.

Buses ply regularly and frequently between Palayur/Chavakkad/Guruvayoor/Thrissur and all major towns in Kerala and South India.

1. From the North : Kuttippuram-Kunnamkulam-Chavakkad-palayur

2. From the South : Kodungallur-Chettuva-Chavakkad-palayur

3. From the East :Thrissur - Kanjany-Enammavu-Pavaratty-Palayur
                         Thrissur-Parappur-Pavaratty-Palayur
                         Thrissur-Choondal-Guruvayur-Chavakkad-Palayur

N.B.CHAVAKKAD PALAYUR DISTANCE:0.75 km, GURUVAYUR PALAYUR DISTANCE:2.00 km

BY TRAIN
Direct trains connect Thrissur with all major Indian cities like Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Trivandrum..... Some trains proceed from Thrissur upto Guruvayur.

N.B.THRISSUR RLY.STATION IS 25 kms FROM PALAYUR, GURUVAYUR RLY.STATION IS 3 kms FROM PALAYUR

BY AIR
Palayur is equidistant ( Less than 90 kms) from the following airports:
Kochi International Airport, Nedumbassery
Calicut International Airport,Karippur
Coimbatore Airport is 140 kms from Palayoor